Galway 2-22 Waterford 1-18: In the day's curtain-raiser at Croke Park Galway booked their place in the SFC minor final with a 2-22 to 1-18 win over Waterford.
Waterford put up a spirited effort but there was no way passed Galway who booked their place in the underage showpiece on September 6th.
Perhaps the pivotal score of the game came from Niall Burke when he found the Waterford goal just before the hour mark to ensure the Tribesmen’s passage.
Waterford refused to lie down and their effort was rewarded with a Paudie Mahony goal. The Ballygunner native took advantage after a mistake by Galway goalkeeper Fergal Flannery.
In the early stages martin O’Neill kept the score-line ticking over for Waterford and would eventually mark up a 0-9 personal tally.
Galway responded with scores from Davy Glennon, Niall Burke and Shane Maloney.
Mahony, O'Neill and Brian O'Halloran replied for Waterford to level at 0-4 apiece before Galway took the advantage. Ronan Badger scored a goal on 25 which was to prove the main difference at the break with Galway leading 1-12 to 0-11.
Richie Cummins and midfielder Davy Glennon laid the groundwork for Badger to get away a fine strike for the only goal of the half.
Galway raced into a six point lead within three minutes of the restart with scores from Burke and Regan.
Waterford pointed through Murray and O'Neill, but Galway settled again after Burke's goal to ensure their eighth All-Ireland minor final this decade.